Page 4198 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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Madam Speaker, I think we have established that there is a need for a review in Tuggeranong. I am not saying anything about the rest of Canberra. That is another issue that needs to be considered in another context. In terms of Tuggeranong, before we allow the Tuggeranong Hyperdome to go into a major expansion that puts hundreds of small businessmen at risk, the Government has an obligation, under the rules that prevail in this city, to look at whether or not it is timely for that to occur. If the Government does not do it - - -
Mr Wood: That is what I have always said, and that is what we are doing.
MR KAINE: If Mr Wood agrees with me, we have no argument. There are a lot of people out there in the community who do not know that that is what the Government intends. They are concerned about their futures and they want that assurance from the Government that this review will be done. Minister, it is your responsibility. You seem to have recognised the problem. I submit to you that you have a responsibility to act responsibly in this matter.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.54): I would like to begin by drawing attention to some of the extraordinary contradictions that Mrs Carnell is capable of. I really do find it an amazing characteristic in the Leader of the Opposition. It was not two hours ago, for instance, Madam Speaker, that Mrs Carnell, during question time, accused me of being anti-investment. Those were her very words. She stood there barefaced and accused me of being anti-investment. Now, Madam Speaker, we hear that, in fact, Mrs Carnell and the entire Opposition are unilaterally opposed to a $40m investment in this city. They have not done the retail study. They have just decided that they are anti this particular investment. It is exactly what they have accused me of. It is an absolute nonsense. Madam Speaker, yesterday Mrs Carnell said that there would be no further retail in Tuggeranong. Again, there was a unilateral pronouncement from the Opposition.
Mrs Carnell: When?
Mr De Domenico: When did she say that?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Let the Chief Minister explain.
MS FOLLETT: Overnight she has had a transformation or had a hell of a fright - one or the other - and has now decided that there ought to be a study conducted. Madam Speaker, the contradictions that she is capable of are absolutely extraordinary. She made a speech not so long ago accusing the Government of imposing undue red tape on Canberra businesses; yet overnight Mrs Carnell, unilaterally, wants to cease - the ultimate red tape; just stop - further development in Tuggeranong. The contradictions are just amazing and they go on and on. The further Mrs Carnell goes, the worse those contradictions get. It is a ludicrous position for somebody who purports to be leading the alternative government. It is absolutely ludicrous.
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